One-armed woman loses right to parking badge

12:00AM GMT 15 Feb 2001

A ONE-ARMED woman has been refused a disabled parking badge because a council says "an applicant must have a disability in both arms" to qualify for the concession.

Lesley Fitzpatrick, 33, of Failsworth, Greater Manchester, had her application to renew the blue disability badge refused by Oldham council's social services. Mrs Fitzpatrick - who was born without her right arm - had an orange badge, which grants holders the right to park in designated spaces, for six years, and successfully renewed it in November 1998. But when she applied for renewal of its successor, the blue badge, she was told that she had failed to prove she was disabled.

Mrs Fitzpatrick explained to the social services department that she needed to use disabled parking spaces as she had a 14-month-old baby. But it made no difference to her application. She said: "It's very difficult for me to use a multi-storey car park. It's difficult to get the ticket, and very hard to get full lock on the steering wheel."

Gwylfn Evans, the council's social services director, said: "The Department of Transport has very clear guidance and instructions on who is eligible and who is not." He said an applicant must be disabled in both arms to qualify.